Postgame

This was a crisply played, tight ballgame, and the A's had just enough, courtesy of their arms, which just could not have been any better. If they can keep this up, and start hitting, they may just get that decisive Game Five, and a chance to try and beat Justin Verlander.

Thanks to a Bay Area revival, we have no fewer than four, huge ballgames on Wednesday. Here's the schedule:

That's a lot of baseball, and two of those are potential series clinching games. Spend the day with us tomorrow, won't you. Until then, it's goodbye from the Brooklyn basement.

4.44am BST

Athletics 2 - Tigers 0, Final

Fielder hits a roller to Drew, he steps on second for one, fires to Moss for the game-ending double play! The ballgame is over, and the A's have come within a game of evening up this series. What a tremendous performance by the A's pitchers, mixed in with some phenomenal fielding and a couple of big knocks!

4.40am BST

Athletics 2 - Tigers 0, Top 9th

Cabrera goes opposite field, slicing a base hit into right. "Who else would you want up there right now but Prince Fielder" says Steve Busfield, and he aint wrong. What can the big fellah do? He's the tying run.

Updated at 3.08pm BST

4.38am BST

Athletics 2 - Tigers 0, Top 9th

Balfour faces Infante who leads off here in the ninth. The crowd is very, very loud, as you might expect from playoff starved fans. They get louder when the 96 MPH cheese flies past the bat of Infante. Ever seen cheese move that fast? One down, here comes Miggy.

Athletics 2 - Tigers 0, Bottom 8th

Rick Porcello, a starter, makes an appearance in relief, and all it takes is one pitch to retire the free swinging Cespedes. He pops to second base and we head to the ninth. Buckle up, the big boys of the Tigers lineup are coiming up to face A's closer Grant Balfour!

4.31am BST

Athletics 2 - Tigers 0, Bottom 8th

Phil Coke is on in relief of Dotel and gets two quick outs. Pennington pops to short, Crisp skies to right. Stephen Drew is next, he's 0-2 with a walk tonight, and here, the A's shortstop earns his second free pass of the game. That's not what you want because Yoenis Cespedes is up, a major power threat. Jim Leyland knows it, and is coming to get Phil Coke. Cue the organ.

4.26am BST

Email

Roger Kirkby says:

Enjoying the game, maybe 2 teams can come back from the dead on the same day. It Could Happen.

He's not wrong. This could be a big day for the Bay Area, whose teams were neariong extinction just a few hours ago - but it's not over yet of course.

By the way, the Tigers have just three hits tonight, which is ridiculous.

4.23am BST

Athletics 2 - Tigers 0, Top 8th

Doolittle makes it two straight k's, getting Laird on strikes. A-Jax is up, and so is the Oakland crowd, waving yellow towels, which are slightly less intimidating then the fans which occupy those stands on fotball Sundays. Whatever, they are fired up, big time, just like Doolittle, who strikes out the side here in the eight! The A's are three outs away from cutting their series deficit in half!

4.19am BST

Sean Doolittle

The Oakland reliever is the second part of the Ryan Cook, Sean Doolittle and Grant Balfour A's trifecta, and he gets going quickly, striking out Avisail Garcia for out number one here in the eighth.

4.17am BST

Anibal Sanchez

Sanchez, like Andy Pettitte last night for the Yankees, pitched well enough to win, but will be saddled with the loss should his Tigers not let him off the hook. He was good tonight, keeping his mistakes to a minimum, but it might not be enough. Here's his line:

6.1IP 5H 2R 2ER 2BB 3K 1HR

4.14am BST

Athletics 2 - Tigers 0, Bottom 7th

Dotel gets Smith, who had a big solo home run back in the 5th inning, pops out into foul territory, something that happens in easier in Oakland than anywhere else thanks to the acres and acres of foul ground. That's two down for that speedster, Derek Norris - he waves at some junk in the dirt, side retired. We head to the eighth!

4.09am BST

MLB (@MLB)

You're on the clock, Reddick. After Coco robbed Prince of HR, Yoenis Cespedes takes single away with diving play: atmlb.com/QbWv4c

Athletics 2 - Tigers 0, Bottom 7th

Josh Reddick hits a laser beam off Sanchez towards Peralta at short - he hops and makes the catch. Donaldson is up next and has a knock that A-Jax has to play on a hop. He nearly dove for the ball, and if he did, there's a good chance that ball goes all the way to the wall because he wasn't going to make that play. That brings Tigers manager Jim Leyland out to make a change. Cue the organ...Octavio Dotel is on his way in.

7th inning stretch

Since the Texas Rangers are out of the playoffs, we can bring you these guys instead. Enjoy...or try to.

3.59am BST

Athletics 2 - Tigers 0, Top 7th

Yeonis Cespedes make a rolling catch in left field, robbing Prince Fielder of yet another potential extra base hit! What a play, we'll get you video as fast as possible. Then Delmon Young strikes out, and the A's crowd is getting louder and louder - cheers that are momentarily halted by Peralta's broken bat base hit. Dirks pops out to Cespedes, who doesn't have far to go on that one. A good inning of relief from Cook as we head to the stretch.

3.55am BST

Anderson out - Cook in

So that's all for Brett Anderson, who is replaced by Ryan cook, one of the anchors of this Athletics bullpen. For Anderson, it could not have been any better. He was great, keeping the Tigers off balance all night long. What more do you want than this?

6IP 2H 0R 0ER 2BB 6K 0 HR

3.52am BST

David Caulfield (@SnookerHQ)

@hunterfelt Going to be an exciting finish. And would you look at that? It's 2am, morning @lengeldavid. There'll be red eyes in the morning.

Athletics 2 - Tigers 0, Bottom 6th

It looks like Anderson may bey be done...after 80 pitches!! What? Meanwhile, Sanchez has a quick two outs, Drew pops hits a big league pop up to second, then my man Yoenis grounds to third. Brandon Moss laces one towards the corner in right field but Garcia is there to make the play. Now, wwas that really the end of Anderson? We'll find out soon enough. We're heading to the seventh.

3.45am BST

Athletics 2 - Tigers 0, Top 6th

Anderson is back on the hill looking to continue what can only be described as a first-class outing in a big spot for his ballclub - and he's getting stronger. A-Jax goes down 6-3 before Infante is struck out, that's five for Anderson, who now has to face Cabrera. Anderson blows him away! That means Miguel/Prince are now 0-5 on the night - Fielder will lead off next inning for Detroit. How bout that Anderson!

Athletics 2 - Tigers 0, Bottom 5th

That Norris is fast for a catcher isn't he? Peralta bobbles his grounder and just does get a streaking Norris for out number two. Pennington works a walk as Sanchez has over 20 pitches in the inning. Coco Crisp, who had an amazing catch and a run scored to his name tonight can't put another hole in Sanchez, who gets him to groundout to second, inning over - a big one for Oakland, who add a run when they are coming at a premium.

3.29am BST

Athletics 2 - Tigers 0, Bottom 5th

RUN! There's a routine fly ball by Donaldson to right before the fireworks in Oakland - Seth Smith hits a rocket up and over the center field wall! It's a solo shot for Smith, who trots around to the sound of James Brown. That's a big run in a tight ball game!

3.23am BST

Athletics 1 - Tigers 0, Top 5th

Jhonny Peralta walks to open the inning for Detroit. Then Dirks becomes strikeout victim number four for Anderson. Garcia is next, and he hits a sharp ground ball to short, Drew fires to Pennington to get Peralta, Pennington fires to Moss and he just misses out on the DP with Garcia beating the throw! No matter though, Laird taps back to Anderson who tosses to first to end the inning. What an outing for Anderson who is through five innings in 67 pitches!

3.14am BST

Athletics 1 - Tigers 0, Bottom 4th

Yoenis Cespedes is here, and gone. He is struck out by a grooving Anibal Sanchez that is gaining in confidence. Three K's so far for the ex-Marlins pitcher. Brandon Moss also goes quietly, lifting a ball to left field that Dirks catches for out number two. That leaves it for Reddick, who draws a momentary cheer from the crowd, before they realize it's caught by Garcia in right. Side retired. Looks like we've got ourselves a good old fashioned pitching duel right here.

Updated at 3.17am BST

3.09am BST

Oakland Athletics left fielder Yoenis Cespedes is coming right up. Photograph: ROBERT GALBRAITH/REUTERS

3.07am BST

Athletics 1 - Tigers 0, Top 4

Mr. Triple Crown is up for the Tigers in the fourth, and he hits the ball hard, but it's right to Drew at SS and he tosses to first for the first out. Drew is busy once more, ranging to his left to field Fielder's ground ball and retire the slugger. So far Detroit's big one-two punch are both 0-2. The inning ends when Delmon Young grounds out. Anderson has now allowed just two runs in his previous 30 innings. Not bad for a guy recovering from Tommy John surgery who has hardly pitched this season...eh?

3.02am BST

Athletics 1 - Tigers 0, Bottom 3rd

Pennington had to wait a whole half an inning after Norris got thrown out trying to steal in ther last frame. When he finally gets back in the batters box he's puched out by the third base umpire Scott Barry on a check swing. Coco Crisp, or Spiderman as some may think of him after that first inning catch, grounds out to third, Cabrera handling it cleanly and tossing to first. That leaves it for Stephen Drew, who hits a ball into shallow left field into the glove of Andy Dirks. An easy inning for Sanchez, who is on 43 pitches.

Updated at 3.12am BST

2.53am BST

Athletics 1 - Tigers 0, Top 3rd

Gerald Laird checks his swing with two strikes and the ball gets away from the A's cathcer Norris. The home plate ump says he went around and Laird takes off for first and is out by a few steps for out number one. Then Anderson issues his first walk of the night to Jackson before Infante smokes one down to third - Donaldson makes the stab, fires to Pennington at second for one, and over to Moss at first to get Infante! ! bang-bang double play and Anderson is through three at The Coliseum!

2.47am BST

In-game highlights!

2.45am BST

Athletics 1 - Tigers 0, Bottom 2nd

Third base has not been one of the A's more productive postions in 2012, but Josh Donaldson gets the home team going with a single to right field. That's the second straight inning they have had the leadoff runner on.

Seth Smith is next, he gives it a ride to left field that puts Andy Dirks on the run - he reaches up to make a nice catch on the move for the first out.

Derek Norris became the fulltime catcher after the A's delt Kurt Suzuki and struggled down the stretch. Here he hits a roller to third, Cabrera fires to second but Infante can't get the throw off because Donaldson takes him out at second.

Then Norris is off and running with Pennington at the plate and Gerald Laird nails him to end the inning - caught stealing, inning over! !

2.35am BST

Athletics 1 - Tigers 0, Top 2nd

The Tigers respond well after Crisp's catch. Delmon Young singles to center, then Jhonny Peralta has a knock of his own to right field. Andy Dirks is next and grounds to second - Cliff Pennington fires to second for one, but Drew's throw to first is not in time. That means we have runners at the corners with two outs and it's up to Avisail Garcia. The Tigers right fielder can't come up with the big hit - he taps back to the pitcher Anderson who throws over to Moss at first to retire the side. The A's escape, for now.

Updated at 3.19am BST

2.30am BST

Athletics 1 - Tigers 0, Top 2nd

WOW!!!!! Talk about making up for past sins! With Prince Fielder at the plate, Coco Crisp tracks a crushed slider way back to right-center field, he leaps, reaches out over the wall and brings a sure home run back into the ballpark! It's an absolutely showstopping catch by Coco Crisp for the first out here in the top of the second!

2.26am BST

Athletics 1 - Tigers 0, Bottom 1st

Sanchez throws a filthy inside fastball that Moss lays off at his peril. That's out number one. Then Josh Reddick hits into a 4-6-3 DP that really provides the Tiger hurler with a boost - they don't call that a pitcher's best friend for nothing. That's the inning, and while the A's get a run, they leave two runners on in a big spot.

2.22am BST

Athletics 1 - Tigers 0, Bottom 1st

RUN! Oh yes he can! Cespedes hits a curve ball straight up the middle and Coco Crisp comes around to score giving Oakland an early lead! Drew moves to second, and there is still nobody out for Brandon Moss, a serious power threat.

Updated at 2.55am BST

2.20am BST

Tigers 0 - Athletics 0, Bottom 1st

Coco Crisp, one of the offenders in Sunday's loss, who is out to make people forget about his little adventure in the pasture in Detroit, leads off with a base hit for Oakland. Stephen Drew works a full count against Anibal Sanchez before drawing a walk, so now the A's have something going. A good start would excite the colorful crowd in Oakland even more than usual. Here's the Cuban, Yoenis Cespedes, who has been a tremendous signing by Billy Beane. Can he kickstart the action for the A's?

2.12am BST

Tigers 0 - Athletics 0, Top 1st

A-Jax strikes out, Omar Infante strikes out and Miguel Cabrera grounds out to second. It only takes eight pitches for Mr. Anderson to retire the Tigers, which is what you want to see out in Oakland. Here come the A's in their half of the first.

2.08am BST

First pitch

Austin Jackson fouled off the first pitch and we are off in Game Three of the ALDS.

Updated at 2.08am BST

2.08am BST

Fannies in the seats part II

So it looks like they have opened up a few tarpped sections of seats, which is very good news - and it looks kind of funny, doesn't it? Nevermind, the A's have taken the field at their ancient Coliseum.

2.04am BST

Fannies in the seats

So first no one shows up to watch the games, then the A's make the playoffs, and everybody wants to go. Do Oakland management lose the upper deck tarps covering the seats and let more people in? No. There may be some legitimate logistical reason for not doing so, but come on!

2.00am BST

The Mentalist

What do we get in New York before the game switches on? Because the Giants and Reds are still playing on TBS, we get The Mentalist on TNT, that instead of being able to watch the teams be announced down the foul lines, which is always nice to see. I trust this is not the case on the West Coast, or at least I hope so.

1.54am BST

1.54am BST

1.44am BST

Preamble

The Oakland A’s were a bobbled ball and a wild pitch away from tying their American League Divisional Series vs. the Detroit Tigers. Instead, the Athletics need to rip off three straight wins at home in order for their storybook season to continue to the ALCS. It won’t be easy, considering that should Oakland even manage to win the next two contests, Justin Verlander would be on the hill for Detroit in the potential fifth and deciding game.

That’s all cart before horse stuff though - if we are even to have a game tomorrow, Oakland must win tonight. Who do they put all their trust in? Brett Anderson, who has started six whole games for the A’s in 2012, putting up a 4-2 record and a 2.57 ERA in the smallest of sample sizes. That the A’s are starting someone who has thrown just 35 innings with their entire season on the line seems like a very Oakland A-ish thing to do doesn’t it? Before you judge know this: Anderson, who had Tommy John surgery last season, has given up just two runs in his previous 26 innings, which is impressive for someone just getting out of bed. However, his only blackmark came against these very same Tigers during his season debut when the southpaw allowed three runs in 2.1 innings of work.

Meanwhile, Anibal Sanchez pitches for the Tigers as they look to wrap this thing up. Sanchez was shipped to the Motor City from Miami back in late July to help bolster the rotation and he’s put up a 3.74 ERA in 74.2 innings as a Tiger. Some may be wondering why Max Scherzer isn’t pitching tonight and that includes me, but Tigers manager Jim Leyland wants Sanchez, and his man is on a bit of a roll, having given up a single run in his previous 15.1 frames. Both offenses haven’t really shined yet in this series, in particular the A’s, who have strung together just five total runs in the two games.

Can BoMel's (Bob Melvin) Swingin' A's get back in it? Well, considering their flare for the dramatic, why not? They erased a five game AL West deficit in nine days, and have 14 walk-off victories, which means they like to leave things for the last minute. Why stop now?

First pitch is at roughly 9:07PM EST tonight, which leaves you a few minutes to get the champers, caviar and foie gras out before we get going here. We’ll have the lineups up in a moment, but in the meantime, you can also e-mail predictions to david.lengel.freelance@gmail.com and tweet to @lengeldavid. My final score tonight: A’s 7 Tigers 3.